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Bosch RA1171 vs RA1181: Which One’s Best?

Rating Image Product Details
The Winner
Winner
Bosch RA1181 Bosch RA1181
  • It is very firm and sturdy in design
  • Suitable for carrying around construction sites
  • Has more accurate measurements and precise cuts
  • The Runner-up
    Second place
    Bosch RA1171 Bosch RA1171
  • It is versatile in use
  • It is more effective in its noise reduction system
  • It comes with two ports for dust collection system
  • Review Summary

    Although routers are a staple for professional and DIY woodworkers, the router table is arguably more important than the router since it provides stable access to the tool. If you do not have a correct router table, there is no way for you to use your router accurately or consistently.

    Two leading router tables are the Bosch RA1171 and the Bosch RA1181. Both of these tables will provide you with consistent and accurate access to your router, but you may prefer one over the other for various purposes. The Bosch RA1171 has a cabinet-style design that increases stability and dust-collecting effectiveness. Although it has issues with the leveling mechanism, it is one of the most cost-efficient options on the market, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.

    The Bosch RA1181 features a large, aluminum worktable design that increases useable workspace and access points to the router. It features numerous storage options for those with several accessories or extension cords. Although it has a non-standard insert size and sometimes an unlevel top, the table is incredibly precise and impressive.

    Of the two, the Bosch RA1181 is the better option. It provides a larger working space, making it a more effective table for routers. If you are looking for the most cost-efficient table, though, then the RA1171 is for you. It is highly affordable and provides many of the same features as the RA1181.

    Divider 2

    At a Glance

    Let’s look at the key points of each product.

    Bosch RA1171
    • 4⅞-inch x 25⅛-inch
    • Pre-drilled
    • Cabinet-style design
    • Features an extra-tall aluminum fence
    • Includes adjustable MDF plates
    • Includes a rigid aluminum router mounting
    • Includes two feather boards
    • Includes two dust collection parts
    • Includes three mounting plate rings and mounting software
    Bosch RA1181
    • Features a large aluminum top
    • Pre-drilled
    • Benchtop router design
    • Table-height adjustment
    • Features an extra-tall aluminum fence
    • Includes one dust collection port
    • Includes an accessory slot and storage pocket
    • Includes mounting hardware and an aluminum mounting plate
    • Stores a 6-foot power cord

    Overview of the Bosch RA1171:

    The Bosch RA1171 is easy to use, precise, and great for beginners. The table has two feather boards that you can attach to the fence and router table. These boards offer additional guidance and protection against kickback while being adjustable. These features make using this router table more convenient and useful for those new to woodworking.

    Bosch Cabinet Style Router Table RA1171

    Even though this router table is great for beginners, it also offers precision and accuracy. It comes with adjustable MDF face plates, allowing the operation to run smoother for taller workpieces. It also includes a rigid aluminum router mounting plate that increases accuracy. Its cabinet-style construction is especially convenient. It makes the table more stable, provides more storage, and collects dust.

    Although this style is bulkier, it is convenient for those who need more storage and dust collection. Like all good things, the Bosch RA1171 also has some drawbacks. From the moment you pull this router table out of the box, you will notice how many parts it comes with. This high number of parts, matched by its unclear instructions, makes this table incredibly difficult to put together.

    The Bosch RA1171’s mounting plate leveling mechanism is also faulty. Even some of the most experienced router table users will have difficulty correctly leveling the mounting plate. This will affect the final results of your woodworking projects.

    Pros
    • Precise
    • Includes two feather boards
    • Easy to use
    • Includes adjustable MDF face plates
    • Cabinet-style design makes the table more useful
    Cons
    • Difficult to set up
    • Faulty leveling mechanism

    divider 4

    Overview of the Bosch RA1181:

    The Bosch RA1181 is a slightly better but more expensive version of the Bosch RA1171. The router table is made from a large aluminum top, offers convenient storage options, and ensures precision.

    The benchtop for the Bosch RA1181 is an extra-long aluminum top. This extended work area gives you more access to your router, which increases the durability and precision of your work. Due to the benchtop router design, the table has more work area than the Bosch RA1171.

    Bosch Benchtop Router Table RA1181

    In addition to its lengthy work area, the Bosch RA1181 has convenient storage options. It includes a dedicated dust collection port, an accessory slot that accepts ¾-inch accessories, a storage pocket, and a cord wrap storage station. These storage options ensure that all your tools have a home and improve your performance.

    The Bosch RA1181 is highly precise as well. It includes a height adjustment feature, an extra-tall aluminum fence, and feather boards. The Bosch RA1181 comes with some pitfalls too. Even though the aluminum surface is durable and extra long, it is incredibly rough. This can potentially damage the wood you are working with by increasing friction.

    The insert plate is also not the standard size. This will be a problem if you change router lifts in the future since it will require you to buy a whole new table to match the lift.

    Pros
    • Extended work area
    • Improves access to the router
    • Aluminum top
    • Includes multiple storage options
    • Includes height adjustment
    • Precise
    Cons
    • Rough surface
    • Non-standard insert plate

    What are the differences between them?

    Performance

    Edge: Bosch RA1181

    Of the two options, the Bosch RA1181 has better performance capabilities. It has a longer table, providing greater access and more working space. The leveling mechanism is also not faulty, like in the Bosch RA1171. As a result, the Bosch RA1181 provides more working space and greater precision and accuracy than the RA1171.

    Price

    Edge: Bosch RA1171

    The Bosch RA1171 is the most affordable option. Although the price range is not drastically different, it is cheaper and offers many of the same features, in addition to one extra dust collector, as the RA1181. If you are looking for a budget-friendly router table, you won’t find a better option than the Bosch RA1171.

    Durability

    Edge: Bosch RA1181

    The Bosch RA1181 is the most durable of the two router tables. Its aluminum tabletop design makes it especially durable since the material is much sturdier and more reliable.

    However, both models are not the most durable tables on the market since they are designed for hobbyists or DIYers. Neither will be suitable for commercial or professional use. Nonetheless, the Bosch RA1181 is more durable than the RA1171.

    Design

    Edge: Bosch RA1181

    Which model has the better design is up for debate, but we argue that the Bosch RA1181 has the edge in design. Since it has a larger workspace, you can work with bigger materials and access the router from more places. This will allow you to get the woodworking designs you want.

    In contrast, the Bosch RA1181 does not have a standard insert, and the cabinet-style design of the RA1171 is advantageous for those who need an incredibly sturdy table. For most woodworking purposes, however, the increased workspace and access are more important than the insert and style, which is why we select the Bosch RA1181 as having the edge in terms of design.


    What the Users Say

    In addition to testing the products for ourselves, we researched other users’ experiences with the Bosch RA1171 and the Bosch RA1181. Read on to hear what other users have to say about these products.

    Positives

    Most users cite the RA1171 and RA1181 as being convenient and valuable for various DIY woodworking purposes. They thought the cost was worth it or exceeded the functions and additions of both router tables.

    Users found that the Bosch RA1171 was especially helpful due to its effective dust collection. The accessories were noted to be stable and fit the table perfectly, which can be an issue for some router tables.

    Similarly, several users mentioned that the Bosch RA1181 has an intuitive design that is helpful for most purposes. Almost every positive review mentioned The sizable aluminum top as a significant benefit of the router table.

    Negatives 

    Even though the reviews for both tables were largely positive, some users were more critical. Users for both tables noted that the materials are relatively cheap compared to many router tables. Both tables also had leveling and precision issues cited against them.

    The Bosch RA1171 was critiqued frequently for its unlevel leveling mechanism. Many users, even those satisfied with their product, found the table incredibly difficult to set up because of its many parts and nonintuitive instruction manual.

    The critiques for the Bosch RA1181 centered around its tabletop surface. Although most reviewers were happy with the top, several critiqued the aluminum material for being too rough for softwood purposes. Several users also noted that the top of the table is not flat, inhibiting their performance as woodworkers.

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    Conclusion

    Both the Bosch RA171 and 1181 are good router tables due to their convenience, style, and affordability. The Bosch RA1181 is the better of the two because of its large workspace, increased router access, storage capacities, and fewer parts.

    That is not to say that the Bosch RA1171 is a bad table. On the contrary, it is ideal for smaller tasks. Since the 1171 table is more affordable and includes many of the same features as the Bosch RA1181, it should certainly be your go-to if you are on a tight budget.

     

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